DOZENS of Southampton school children took part in the city's first Chinese lantern competition.

UK Shaolin Temple has partnered with the Confucius Institute from Southampton University to hold four Chinese Lantern making workshops at local primary schools in the Southampton area.

Last week, the pupils and teachers of St. Denys Primary School and St. John's Primary School learned about the traditional Chinese art paper cutting and lantern making.

All lanterns will be entered into the city's first Chinese Lantern Competition, which will take place in the NST Southampton on Friday, January 10.

The Lantern Competition on is judged by a panel of judges, which includes the Mayor of Southampton, a CI teacher and a local artist.

Each participating school will present their entries to

the panel and explain more about their creative choices. The entrants will also participate in the city's Chinese New Year Extravaganza on January 25.

All of the competitions lanterns will go on display to the public for one month in the John Hansard Gallery after the competition has concluded.